CUT BANK
The FBI is asking for the public's help in an investigation into the poisoning of a Border Patrol agent earlier this year. Timothy Fuhrman, special agent in charge of the FBI's regional office in Salt Lake City, announced a $25,000 reward Wednesday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the poisoning of U. S. Customs and Border Patrol Agent Denton Moberly. A tip line has also been set up. The number is (866) 931- 6962. Moberly had lunch at a fast food restaurant in Cut Bank in February and became violently ill. In July, an informant told the Glacier County sheriff's office that the "border cop" had been deliberately fed a farm poison. "I was in uniform, and I was driving a marked vehicle through the drive-through lane," Moberly said, adding that at the time he was relatively new in town, knew only a few People and had no known enemies. "I believe this was a random attack on law enforcement," he said at Wednesday's news conference. Juan Becerra, media coordinator for the FBI's Salt Lake City Division, said investigators were following some leads, but it was time to seek help from the public. "When we appeal to the public it is with the hopes that the public can fill in the blanks," he said. Moberly is confined to a wheelchair from the effects of the poison. "The nervous system damage has been extensive," Becerra said. "We are again amazed at how much he has been able to recover so far. These are very taxing physical problems." Becerra said Moberly has very little control of his right leg and at times passes out and falls down, injuring himself. He now wears a helmet and slurs his speech. Moberly, who was a border patrol agent in Laredo, Texas, for six years, moved his family to Montana a year ago because he thought it would be safer. He said the poisoning has "destroyed" his life. "I was a firearms and an ATV instructor, and rode bikes off-road with my family," he said. "Now all I can do is sit on the couch and watch TV."
